Taliban draws Aug. 31 red line for troop withdrawal: "There would be consequences"
23 August 2021
A spokesperson for the Taliban told Sky News Monday there would be "consequences" if the U.S. extended troop withdrawal beyond Aug. 31 to complete evacuating Americans and Afghan allies from the country.
Why it matters: The U.S. and its allies are quickly approaching the full withdrawal date with thousands left to still evacuate. President Biden has said troops will remain in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, and in remarks Sunday, he did not rule out the prospect of staying past the deadline.
What they're saying: "It's a red line," Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said. "President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So, if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that."
- "If the U.S. or U.K. were to seek additional time to continue evacuations — the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction," he added.
The big picture: Around 10,000 to 15,000 Americans are still in the country now controlled by the Taliban according to various reports.
- Between 50,000 and 65,000 Afghans and their families await evacuation assistance from the U.S, according to Biden.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to push Biden to extend the withdrawal date in order to complete evacuations, though the Taliban would need to give its approval first, according to Reuters.
Go deeper:Pentagon enlists commercial airlines to help evacuation efforts
Transcripts show George Floyd told police "I can't breathe" over 20 times
Section2Newly released transcripts of bodycam footage from the Minneapolis Police Department show that George Floyd told officers he could not breathe more than 20 times in the moments leading up to his death.
Why it matters: Floyd's killing sparked a national wave of Black Lives Matter protests and an ongoing reckoning over systemic racism in the United States. The transcripts "offer one the most thorough and dramatic accounts" before Floyd's death, The New York Times writes.
The state of play: The transcripts were released as former officer Thomas Lane seeks to have the charges that he aided in Floyd's death thrown out in court, per the Times. He is one of four officers who have been charged.
- The filings also include a 60-page transcript of an interview with Lane. He said he "felt maybe that something was going on" when asked if he believed that Floyd was having a medical emergency at the time.
What the transcripts say:
- Floyd told the officers he was claustrophobic as they tried to get him into the squad car.
- The transcripts also show Floyd saying, "Momma, I love you. Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead."
- Former officer Derek Chauvin, who had his knee on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes, told Floyd, "Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk."
Read the transcripts via DocumentCloud.